Cristiano Ronaldo will play in the sporting insignificance in the future and after all, can be paid excellently. The multiple world footballer damaged his own legend permanently.
There were times when football legend Cristiano Ronaldo was less euphoric about a possible engagement in the desert. In 2015 he said in an interview with the “Jonathan Ross Show” quite clearly: “In my mind I’ll end my career at the top level. With dignity at a big club. That doesn’t mean that it’s not good to go to the USA, Qatar or Dubai. But I don’t see myself there.”
Well, times have changed. Seven years later, in the last days of 2022, Ronaldo creates facts: He does not end his career (almost certainly) at the top level, not with dignity at a big club in a legendary stadium. It pretty much amounts to the opposite and is a classic example of a once untouchable sports star missing the right moment to break out of the pro circuit.
Ronaldo, once a five-time world footballer and now 37 years old, is now officially riding into his football retirement in Saudi Arabia. On Friday, Al-Nassr FC, not known as a world club, announced the world star’s move to the Saudi Arabian side. A sporting descent for the man who shaped football for a decade and a half and set new standards. Especially in terms of speed, athleticism, jumping ability, header play and shooting technique. The list is very long. The list of his records is longer. He holds countless goal records at club and national team level. A football phenomenon. For years, Ronaldo was the soccer star everyone aspired to take the game to a new level. In England, Spain and Italy. He surprisingly led the Portuguese national team to the 2016 European Championship title.
But for the next two and a half years, which will probably be his last as a professional soccer player, Ronaldo is being rewarded handsomely in the desert state. According to media reports, he should earn 200 million euros in salary alone – per year. Makes about half a billion euros in two and a half years. Dimensions that make you dizzy. Of course, that would make him the highest-paid athlete in the world. In addition, there should be a hefty hand money, there is no transfer fee, since Ronaldo is currently no longer employed by any club. You can criticize that, but you have every right to earn a lot again. Especially since football seems lost in this regard anyway.
The location of his football early retirement is also heavily criticized. According to organizations such as Amnesty International, the ultra-conservative Kingdom of Saudi Arabia disregards human rights in many areas and practices sports washing at its best (or actually worst). The case of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi is still disturbing today. Now one can object that the much-celebrated world champion Lionel Messi also advertises for the Saudi Arabian tourism authority or is paid by Qatar millions (the state fund sponsors Paris St. Germain), Formula 1 drives there, boxers fight there, the Spanish one Liga hosts the Supercup there. Yes everything correct. But that doesn’t make it any better.
The Portuguese is not only coming to Saudi Arabia in his actual role as a footballer. Above all, Ronaldo should also advertise the Saudi Arabian World Cup project. The Gulf state wants to host the World Cup in 2030 together with Egypt and Greece. Indeed, considering the ridiculous award to Qatar, anything seems possible with this FIFA. Ronaldo’s salary of more than 200 million euros is advertising money well invested for the Saudi Arabian football makers – not to mention the income from jerseys and sponsorship contracts. Incidentally, only 25,000 spectators fit into the Al-Nassrs stadium. In the coming years, Ronaldo will primarily appear as an advertising figure.
In terms of sport, the league is irrelevant. But maybe that fits together quite well. Because with its performance on the lawn, CR7 had already been on a downward slide for a year or two. But now it’s officially over. In the fall, he exposed Manchester United with a tough interview, and the contract was terminated. He had previously annoyed his coach Erik ten Hag with an angry exit into the dressing room and constant expressions of displeasure.
Ronaldo had messed it up with everyone. He was no longer a regular. No Champions League, no championship race in the prestigious Premier League, Serie A, Primera División, not even Ligue 1 or Bundesliga. In the summer, Ronaldo offered himself almost everywhere in Europe through his advisor. All top clubs, including FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, declined with thanks. Too much money for too much risk with a sporting diva that Ronaldo is. They don’t have the money problems in Saudi Arabia.
Gone are the days when Ronaldo dominated a league like in Spain, Italy or England (first time at Manchester United). The present is called Saudi Pro League. Can you find good or not. Above all, it is reality. Ronaldo was also demoted in the national team this year on the open world stage. While the ticker reports about a possible move to Saudi Arabia were already glowing around him at the World Cup, national coach Fernando Santos put him on the bench from the knockout games. Sure, there were discussions, but when Ronaldo’s substitute Goncalo Ramos then tied a hat-trick against Switzerland in the round of 16, even the Portuguese realized: Ronaldo’s heyday is over. You can do without him.
The 37-year-old probably wants to continue playing in the national team for the time being, but Euro 2024 in Germany will probably continue to spur on the ambitious player. But don’t expect anything too big. The Ronaldo era – it’s over. Of course he remains a legend. But she already gets scratches, maybe even bigger bumps. Especially compared to his archrival. While Messi has just become world champion, he will soon be playing at the highest level again in the European Champions League. Meanwhile, Ronaldo is playing in front of significantly fewer spectators in a meaningless league. Cristiano Ronaldo faces what is arguably the highest-paid humiliation of all time.
(This article was first published on Saturday, December 31, 2022.)